Pipe-bending machine.



J. P. COX.

. PIPE BENDING' MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1909.

1,0135839. 'PatentedJan.2,1912.

SSHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. P. cox, PIPE BENDING MACHINE.

APPLIOA-TIOITIILED JUNE 3, 1909. 1,013,839. v Patented Ja r1.2,1912.

8 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

J. P. 00X.

PIPE BENDING MACHINE.

APPLIUATIGN EILED JUNE 3, 1909.'

7 1,013,839. Patented Jan.2,1912.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. P. 00X;

PIPE BENDING MACHINE. 5 gimmqnmn rI BnI mIn 3,1909. 1,01 3,839. Patented Jan 2, 1912.

8 SHEETSSHEET 4.

J. F; COX.

PI PB BENDING MACHINE.

APPLIGATIUN FILED JUNES, 1909.

1,01 3,839; Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

s SHEETSSHEET 7.

.J. P. COX.

PIPE BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE3, 1909.

} 1,013,839, Patented Jan.2, 1912.

8 SHEETS-SHEET B.

44 212170 a) /fi E I gm) ml rinrrnn s'ra rns Parana enrich.

JAMES FILLMORE COX, OF BAYONNE,'NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 'IO MATTHEW 'I. CRONIN, F BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY.

PIPE-BENDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 2. 1912.

To all whom it my concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs Finmuonn Cox, I

citizen of the United States, residing at. Bayonne, in the county. of Hudson andState Machines, of which the following is a specification. a

My invention relates to improvements in pipe bendlng machines.

It has for its object, among other things,

to provide for readily and effectively bending pipes cold into curvilinear or segmental out-line; also to effect such bending operation without the aid of a filling or core for the pipe as heretofore ordinarily required to prevent the changing of the cross-sectional outline or form of the bent or curved portion of the-pipe; and to carry out these objects in a simple and expeditious manner.

My invention consists of certain instrumentalitiesor featuressubstantially as hereinafter fullydisclosed and defined by the clalms.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accom-- panying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are deslgnated by suitable reference characters in each of tlieviews, and in which:

Figure l is a front view of my improved universal bending machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a broken partly sectional and partly side view of the gearing arrangement and friction clutch mechanism whereby the power is transmitted through a air of miter gears and a vertical shaft to the endless chain, and also by means of a pair of beveled gears in connection with a horizontal shaft, worm and'worm-wheel, to the feed-rolls. Fig. 4 is a broken detailed partly sectional view of the feed-roll mechanism as embraced in Fig. 1. .Fig. 5 is a transverse section produced through Fig. 6, viewing especially the mandrel engaging hook of a follower more fully later disclosed. Fig. 6 is a broken partl'y sectional and partl'yside view of what may be termed a follower. employed in connection with the endless chain of the feed-roll mechanism for the pipe or tube. Fig. 7 is a broken partly sectional and partly plan view of the undergearing for the general application of ower to the various'parts of the machine. ig. 8 is a broken sectional View disclosing more especially the shaft D and the several parts carried thereon. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary edge view of the former arranged upon the shaft D. Fig. 10 is a broken plan view, partly in section of a modification of said former and intcrgeared parts whereby the power is transmitted directly-to the latter. Fig. 11 is a plan view, partly in section, of

the overgearing arrangement geared with the undergearing means. Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional and partly plan view of the automatic arrangement for disengaging the power at a pre-determined time, also the foot treadle for applying the power at the required time. Fig. 13 is a broken sectional and plan view of the safety-trip 17 5 in operative connection for'tripping or disengaging the power upon the return action or movement of the member K. Fig. 14 is a broken partly side and partly sectional view showing more especially the'sgraduated ring member and zero mark upon the lower portion of the-shaft D. Fig. 15 is a detailed sectional view showing more especially the relative arrangement of the emergency stop X. Fig; 16 is a fragmentary perspective view showing more especially the relativ arrangement of the members 18 and J and their connection F F g. 17 is a detailed perspective'of the member J with its attachments, as primarily disclosed in Fig. 1. Fig. 18 is a detailed perspective view showing the relative connection of the members 69 and 7 0 and also the relative connection of the member F with the member 69. Fig. 19 is a dctailed perspective view of the member 70. Fig. 20 is a detailed perspective view of a gib which'is placed at rs, Fig. 16, for reasons hereinafter disclosed. Fig. 21 is a sectional and partly side view of the tie-r d arrangement as embraced in Fig. 1 and further hereinafter described. Fig. 22 is a detailed perspective view of the revolving head or adjustable vise clamping mechanism as used with the former M. Fig. 23 is a detailed sectional view of themember L usedin connect-ion with the member Q. Fig. 24 is a broken detailed plan of the former M with a substitute member K for the member 64, as when connecting the device for radial bending. Fig. 25 is a broken detailed sectional view of the member F also..em.- bodied in the machine as disclosed in Fig. 1. Fig. 26 is a detailed perspective view of the bending roll or. die for' determining the radius and diameter in making bends. Fig. 27 is a detailed sectional view of the member M, showing more particularly the removable top flange as used in making die-bends beyond 180 degrees.

In the practice of my invention as shown in the accompanying drawings and specifications, I provide a -main frame or bed plate A which forms the top or table of the machinery. The frame A is suitably supported at the rear end upon legs E and at the front upon a frame B itself supported upon a leg C. Connected to the leg G and legs E is a bottom frame or support 44 which in turn supports the back end of the under frame B. Suitable vertical bearings on the members A-B and 44, in alinement, accommodate a vertical shaft D on the lower end of which is placed the automatic tripping contrivance S. Upon the vertical shaft D near its'upper end is placed the traveling arm K, the angular socket K receiving the angular end F of said shaft as shown in Fig. 9.. This means of connection is provided in view of the great power necessary for rotating the traveling arm K. Above its angular portion, the shaft D is provided with athreaded portion which receives a lock nut F Fig. 13. A recess K is provided for the reception of this look nut to keep the traveling arm K down properly to the shoulder on member D. The member or shaft D is further provided with a key as shown at F, Fig, 5, at which point the' shaft is turned-to a smaller diameter and which is used to connect the member M or the bending wheel or die block so as to ro-' tate with said shaft. It will be seen that, by the above arrangement, the vertical shaft D has securely connected therewith both the member M and the traveling arm K. It will also be noted that the shaft D projects beyond the member M to support the tie rod arrangement which is shown at 118-.

The traveling arm K has a dovetail portion on its upper side which accommodates a head L, the head L being moved longitudinally along the projecting arm of K. Means for moving this head are provided in 'the form of a feed screw F and a hand wheel Z. The traveling arm K being placed at right angles or 90 degrees to the pipe to be bent or operated upon provides a parallel clamping surface therebetween and the traveling head L which is provided with a similar grooved block Q which serves as a ,clamp when the head L is advanced along the traveling arm K. This block is so arrected to ranged as to slide in a dovetailed opening and is securely held in place by a key 43'. Specific claims and attention, as well, is di- 311s particular construction, it being regar ed as the quickest and simplest I change system which could be adopted. The

member M is provi 6 ad with a movable flange and 41.

K securely held to the member M by suitable cap screws K and K. An additional 'or.final locking device is provided in the form of aneccentric lever K having as its fulcrum a shaft K; This arrangement provides for the final locking or gripping of.

the pipe or tubing after the sliding head L g has been advanced by means of the hand wheel Z and brought into contact with thev part'64.

The member M is provided with a removable' block 64 in the face of which is a groove corresponding to a similar groove in the periphery of 'member M as'shown in Fig. 48. The member M is also provided with the necessary opening or bore as shown at K into which is also received the shaft D. The member M is further provided with a key-way K? to receive the key F which is inserted in shaft D as shown in Fig. 30. Connected to? the part 64 are two supporting blocks K and K which fit down upon the extending arm 'of K, and which serve as an additional means of both supplying power to the member M or the bending die as well as to take the strain off the key F The pipe or tubing to be operated'upon is received into the grooved portion the periphery wheel H.

Shafts G 34 and 45 accommodate a pair of twin bevel gears G and 40 between the bearing g and B. On the outer end of each shaft G and 45 is also a bevel gear G On the shaft 34 and just outside of the bearing Gr is accommodated an intermediate bevel gear-G Outside of the gear G and on the same shaft is'accommodated a Worm wheel 42. Underneath the worm wheel is a worm E as shown in Fig. 18. This worm wheel is accommodated or supported by a horizontal shaft 3 7 which in turn is supported in a gear case V with suitable bearings at either end. The gear case V has an extending arm which projects within a few. inches of the shaft D, said casing also affording a bearing for a shaft 38. The shaft 38 is supported in the bottom end of the under frame B by suitable'bearings in which the shaft rocks or turns, said shaft being held stationary in the casting V by means of set screwsor other suitable means. The shaft 38 projects beyond its bearing, at

the front end, at which point it'accommodates a foot treadle U. When it is desirous to have the machine operate and to be suppl ied with a source of power the foot treadle 1s pressed down, it being stationarily con nected to the shaft 38, and imparts a rocking'or vertical movement by means of the shaft to the member V which brings the worm E in mesh with the worm wheel 42. The power is then transmitted bymeans' of a straight and cross ,belt A and A as shown in Fig. 2, to the pulleys 51, A and A The pulley A being stationary on the shaft 37 and the pulleys or beltwheel 51 and A being loose pulleys or idlers, it is necessitates the adoption of a universal joint between the two sections of the shaft 37 as shown in Fig. 7. The power is now applied by means of the worm E in relation "or mesh with the worm wheel 42 which transmits the power by .means of the shaft 1 r the shafts Gr and 45 which, in turn being in 34;,it being understood that the gears are keyed to the shaft. Any rotation now of the worm wheel 42 will cause a rotation of the intermediate bevel gear G which is in mesh with G and 41 which in turn transmits the power to- G1. and 40 by means of mesh with, and actuating the bevel gear R which is properly keyed to and operates the vertical shaft D, operating the bending roll M and the traveling head or arm K, together with, the parts relatively connected therewith. It being understood that the automatic stop S when set at. a predetermined angle or degree and locked securely to the member D by means of a hand screw T as shown in Fig. 1 will also rotate with the said shaft D. There is shown in Fig. 1 a bearing underneath the under frame B, which is at right angles with the vertical bearing, which accommodates a horizontal shaft 39 which is securely held therein, on the end of which is supported an emergency lever X and a swinging catch or dog G14 which accommodates a pin G on one side and 'a small steel block W on the other side. lVhen the arm V is caused to move downwardly by-the foot treadle, the worinE will be brought into operative connection with the worm wheel G by means of ,a spring at the rear side and caused to swing forwardly and lock the arm V stationary as shown in Fig. 1, and will remain so during the course of operation until such time as it is either released by the action of the automatic stop S, or disengaged by means of the emergency lever X. p I

- The main or bed frame A is providedwith a dovetail slide H as shown in Fig 17. This accommodates a back rest J. This back rest also moves at right an les and on a horizontal plane by meansof a hand wheel and screw in a similar arrangement as that used on the traveling head as shown herein. A suitablescrew nut F which is secured to the traveling head J, serves as a suitable means in connectionv with the screw forjthe longitudinal movement of J along'the fslide H The 'headalflorback rest serves as a' -means of resistancefor the pipe 2; th s me f retee -,1 he: -.a versi and backward movement of this back rest 5 is to accommodate the different diameters of bending wheels. It is necessary in effecting somestyles of bending to havetvarious attachments for placing in the back rest J toaccommodate the different classes of work as shownby the members 69 and of Fig. 17. In Fig. 19 is shown an arrangement for bending diebends in the course of manufacturing brass bedstcads and similar work wherein a brass covered, iron lined tubing would be used and wherein metals having two difierent tensile strengths are to be dealt with at the same time.

It is necessary .in making bends on some grades of material to'support the piece to be operated upon beyond the center on the outside. It is therefore necessary that the member70 as shown in Fig. 17, should slide lengthwise in the member J. In order to stop this slide at the proper ,point, it is necessary to provide a stop pin which is stationary in the member J, as shown in of slotting the back portion of the block 70 as'shown by H. As there are various attachments which are placed in the member 70 a suitable dovetailed groove is provided for this purpose as shown in H Figs. 19

and 26. There is also provided a key way H into which is placed a key H for securely holding the various attachments therein.

In bending it will be readily seen that there is more or' less pressure imposed upon the back rest. This, however, causes more or less friction; It is desirous to reduce all possible friction to the minimum, and if possible to eliminate it entirely. A means for doing this is by the employment of a traveling die section or member H which is provided with the necessary groove H into which the pipe fits. This traveling semi-die section or member is moved with the pipe longitudinally against the rollers 67 whose shafts 68 and 68 are journaled or carried in a frame 69. This, however, cannot be. used .with pipe and tubing of relatively great diwhich is secured to E by means of'suitable filister head screws,'countersunk as shown by F same figure. In the course of operation the longitudinal movement of the traveling semi-die causes the member F to preject beyond back rest toa considerable extent,

H Figs. 19 and 26. This is done by means therewith as shown in Fig. 22.

larger sizes of pipe the weight of the traveling semi-die becom'es considerable and increases with every larger sized diameter. The sliding of such a great weight upon the sharp edge of the bottom part-of the arm V of the member J into which it travels would cause great wear. I have, therefore, provided a gib H", Fig. 20, which is placed in under the sliding complemental or semi-die at the point shown by RS of member J, Fig. 17 which gives a fiat smooth surface on which to work and eliminates all possible wear on the larger member J. A lug H is provided on the gib H of Fig. 20

to prevent the "gib from sliding through the member J which might occur as the result of friction.

When the pipe is removed after it has been bent into the desired form there is a tendency for the member F to become dislodged and dropped down. I, therefore, I rovide an arm or member H which pro- ]e'cts 'over the top. of the complemental or semi-diemember as shown in Fig. 16, which supportsa small shaft- H which is held in place by a lock nut II. This shaft accommodates a roller H There is a similar arrangement at the rear as shown by H which is supported by an arm of a member or bracket arm 18. During the bending operation, the back end of the pipe has a swinging tendency. I, therefore, provide the bracket; 18 which has a11 1ipstanding roller 19 accommodated to the back end of the traveling semi-die, or member'F as j shown in Fig. 16. A slot in each side of the'bracket 18 permits moving backward and forward of the same the proper relation and adjustment to the back rest of member J.

The pressure is so great, especially in bending pipes of great diameters, against the back rest J .that there is a tendency of the same to spring away from the bending rolllof member M. I therefore, provide a tie rod 66 as shown in Fig. 21 to prevent this action, said tie rod being provided with 1 the hand wheel and the tie rod are screwed up tightly, the friction washer 71 is caused, p .to exert pressure on the upper projecting portion thereof as will be fully apparent f. from Fig. 23.

itreme rigidity. point, as before indicated, I wish to estabwasher 71 thereon. It will be readily seen and understood that the member 118, being placed on the shaft D and projecting at an angle to the back rest or member J is secured with extreme rigidity. In this particular operation which is known as diebending, the pipe to 'be operated upon is bent around a formervor die member M. This I term as die-bending and which shall be referred to throughout this case as die- 75 bends. By thus adopting the tie-rod system is attained one, of numerous points, numbering about twenty, most essential and involved in the principle of my system of pipe and tube bending. The point I wish to go make and establish now is that in order to successfully bend a pipe or tube cold, it is absolutely necessary that it be held tightly and intact to the bending die or member M and in the proper groove for the reception 5 of the same in its periphery. It is therefore necessary that no springing back of the back rest or member J take place, which would result in producing an opening between the point of resistance and member 90, M which would permit the pipe to spring away from the bending die M, therefore in jorder to prevent this, I have adopted the tie rod system. It will now be readily seen that one end of the tie rod 118 being securely fastened to the projecting'end of :the shaft D and the other endof the tie rod being placed in the opening H of the member J as shown in Fig. 17, that, when Also it is noted that the movement or tightening of this hand wheel tube intact to the member M assuring ex- Extreme rigidity at this lish as one of the most essential points-involved in the principle underlying the invention. It has previously been mentioned and referred to regardin the elimination of all possible reduction of riction at the point 115 of resistance against the back rest J and its attachments in the use of the members H and F as semi-dies as particularly shown in'Figs. 16, 17 and 18. Thisis the second i N will tie, as it were, the back rest fast to the shaft D, therefore, holding the pipe or point I wish to establish in connection with '1 the principle which shall be known as elinii-' nation of friction. 'It will be seen that w 7 now have at the point of resistance or at the its movement by a screw threaded sleeve and backrest J extreme rigiditycombined with v;, f; 1 a frictionless movement. I 1. In the course of bending over' a form or bending-die member M the traveling head K, shown in operative connection in Fig. 2, I starts by revolving in the direction indi-' cated by the arrow therein. At the begin- 3 a casting 118 having a screw threaded con- 60 nection therewith, said casting 118 having a bdre to receive the projecting upper portion or end of the main shaft D. This shaft or rod 66 has screw threaded connection with a hand wheel N suitably limited in pipe or tubing and thenthe final lockingle ver K is pressed downward, assuringa good rigid grip on to the pipe or tubing and preventing any possible slippage. WVhen tubing with a very. thin wall of soft material is used, it is necessary to place a plug in the end of the pipe, inside at the point of gripping, when making bends close to the end, in order to prevent the crushing of the tube Q1, pipe. The end plug, however, not necessary in steel or iron pipes with a heavy wall as a means of securely gripping the pipe or tubingv and preventing it from slipping or pulling through the'clamping blocks 64 and Q, establishes the fifth point involved in the principle. The five established points involved in the principle refer to making die bends. Any slippage caused in the pipe, between the pipe and the clamping arrangement will result in the buckling and collaps-' ing of the pipe or tubing and oftentimes causes a distinct breaking of the pipe or tubing so it will be readily understood wherein the fifth-point of the principle is involved. It is not always possible to bend the thinner gages by pulling them around the bending former M by means of the traveling head K but it is possible to do so by means of the traveling head when operated in connection with the follower as the head has a tendency to pull the tubing around the former as shown in Fig. 2, when working in connection with the followers, which pushes upon the back end of the tubing, and

' operates therewith when power is applied to the endless chain by means of the friction clutch'arrangement. The peripheral speed of the bending former is the same as the traveling speed of feet per minute, as the endless chain gives the same movement of travel to both thetraveling head and the follower, but there is a slight increase and decrease of expansion and contraction in the tubing in'the courseof thebending operation owingnto the different tempers of material, there'being hard and soft spots in the pipe and tubes which occur in the milling process where they are manufac tured. ltiis therefore necessary to provide a means for taking care of this unevenness of expansion and contraction. order to provide for this a spring D is arranged,

upon the rods D and D", between a cast ing D and. a collar D -and suitably held in place by lock'or jam nuts D and D whereby, as the-tube in'the course of action presses against the member I) and as an increase or decrease in expansion wlllcause the member D- to slide backwardly or forwet'rdly on the connecting rods D and D",

the movement will as indicated, be compensated for bythe action of the springs D. A bushing D is interposed between the casting D and the mandrel 55, and is readily removable to provide for replacing the same by another, as in accommodating mandrels of difierent cross-sections, said mandrel also having a head D within the tubular member 73, to which head is con Also a hook D effects nected the rod L connection at D with the casting D, said hook being adapted to have engagement with the endless traveling member 4:. By

providing a means of operating the follower in connection with the revolving head, I have established the sixth point involved in the principle. By providing a means of automatically taking up the difference in exexact duplication of bends is required, I- have provided the degree graduations G There is a zero mark D on the main shaft I) as shown .in Fig. 1,'which is direct in front when the traveling head is in its nor.- mal position. In order to stop the machine at a certain degree it is only necessary to set the automatic stop with the desired degree in the proper relation to the zero mark, and when the projecting portion or arm of S in the course of rotation engages the member G it will trip and disengage the block W, thus releasing the projecting arm of the member V as shown in Fig. 4 and detailed in. Fig. 21 which will disengage the power at the same time stopping the movement of the endless chain 4, the follower seen especially in Fig. 27, and the rotating head K, Fig. 1. In order to return the revolving head K it is necessary to first reverse the power of the machine which is accomplished bythe lever 76, Fig. 2, and the connecting rod- 52 and the belt shifting arrangement A which will shift the reverse or cross belt A from the loose pulley A on to the tight pulley A and the straight belt A will then be shifted'to the loose pulley 51 now that the power of the machine is reversed. In order to start the backward movement of .the rotating head and to bring it back to its normal position by pressing down with the foot treadle U the worm E is again, brought in mesh with the worm wheel 42 and the power is applied at this point and securely held in mesh by the locking arrangement 'shownin- Fig. 4:. which securely holds the reverse power to return the revolving head K. It is necessary that the head K should stop when it has reached its normal position and that the power be disengaged at' the right time to prevent the traveling head coming in contact with the back rest J. 1

have therefore provided an automatic stop ping I or safety stop and arrangement ,as shown in Figs. 20 and 18 whereby '175 is the tripping arrangement which is secured and made stationary to the shaft D just be and made stationary to the shaft D just beneath the forward automatic stops as shown in Fig. 19. A lever arrangement G is supported by a screw or pin G which is securely fastened to the bottom supporting frame 44, and acts as a pivot or fulcrum upon which the lever G is operated. The lever 9 is also provided at one end with a pin or screw G to carry a roll G It will now be understood that by the arm 175 coming in contact with the roller G, the lever Gr will be caused to swing on its pivot or center G and cause its free end to actuate .the locking arrangement W so as to disobject or 1pc from said endless carrying member, ollower, connecting means between sa1d follower and sald carrvmg member a lost-movement compensating means for said follower and a mandrel and a guide rod bearing said follower.

2. A pipe bending machine, includin an endless carrying member, pipe-ben ing means receiving the object or plpe from said endless carrying member, a follower, means of connect on between said follower and said carrying member, and a lost-movement compnsating resilient member for said follower, applied'to said mandrel. L

Y 3. 'A pipe-bending machine, comprising a bendingformer, a shaft carrying said bending former, and an automatically tripping mechanism for saidshaftinclnding an arm carried by said shaft, a right angled or bellcrank lever, a vertical bearing, an additional hearing at right angles to said vertical 'bearmg, a horizontalshaft carried by said verti cal bearing and equipped with an ,emergency lever and a swinging dog, and treadle actuated means adapted to be engaged by said emergency lever for arresting the action of the parts. i

4. A pipe bendin machine, comprising a bending former, a s aft carryingsaid bend ing former, an endless carrying member, a

follower, resiliently cushioned telescoped members, a hook-ended member connected to the follower proper and adapted to engage said endless carrying member.

5. 'A pipe bending machine, comprising a bending former, a shaft carrying said bending former, an overgearing mechanism for said shaft, an endless-carrying member, a follower, a resiliently cushioned compensating member for said follower, and means of in presence of two witnesses- JAMES FILLMORE COX.

Witnesses: 7

JOHN J. RYAN, M. I. CRONIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

